Electric water heater



M. S. GAZELLE ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Filed Feb. 3, 192

INVENTOR. Michel 6. Qazella.

ATTORN Y.

I ulull I in which, I

Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNETED STATES fmIcHELs. AZE'ILL or person, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER,

Application filed February My invention relates to a new and usefpl improvement in an electric heater for use in heating liquids of various kinds and P31111011- larly for heating water which is under pressure so that the invention may be used as an instantaneous heater for heating the water as. it passes through the heater. An object of the present invention is the provision of a heater of this class which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture and highly efiicient in use, while at the same time theheater will he durable and compact.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a number'of tubular-members sov arranged and constructed and assembled thatthe maximum amount of heating may behad while the device is; easily and quiekly as- Sembled- I11 Another object of the pr sentinvention s the provision of a switch which will be automatically o )erated and which 'willbe quick andpositive' infits act-iontassuring .a quick make and breakso'as to preventarcmg. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Theinvention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. 1

The invent-ion'will be best understood from a reference tothe accompanyin drawing which form a part of this-specification and Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view taken on substantially line 1-;1 of Fig.3,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, sideeivat-idnal view of the upper end 'ofthe switch mechanism.- 4 ,Q -1

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on substan-. tially line 33 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. t is a sectional view taken on substantially line %l4'of Fig. 1. c t

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on substantially line 5 5 of, Fig. 3.. ,5 Fig. (Sis a section on theline.66 f Fig. 1.

' Fig.7 is a detail in section of part of the switch frame.

Theinvention comprises a base 7 'wliichis circular in form and preferably-made from metal. A circular groove 9 is formed concentric of the axis of the base 7: to provide the centrally positioned boss 8 having a threaded opening 8 formed therein.

Formed in the base 7 are concentric grooves 10 and 11 spaced slightly apart, and the grooves 14 and 15 also spaced slightly apart, theytwo pairs being spaced from each other a greaterdistance than the grooves m'cach 3, 1926. Serial No. 85.734.

pair. Engaging in the groove 10 is one end of a tube 12, preferably madefrom metal. Engaging in the groove 11 is the corresponding end of a tube 13. also preferably made from metal, it being desirable that the tubes used in the invention be made from some ofticient heat conducting material. Engaging in the glOOVe 14 is the lower end of a tube 16 and engaging in the groove 1:") is the lower end of a tube 1?, these tubes being spaced apart. Projecting fromj the base 7, are bosses 18 each of whiclris provided with a passage 19 which serves to communicate the space between the tubes 16 and-1T with'the spacebetweenthe tubes 12 and 13. on the inner surface of the-tube 17 byjsuit able. supporting rivets 21. is} a; bracket; which gseryes to support. insulator- 22, of a well known type, throughwhich, is projected the heating element .The structure Of; the insulators asd the method of projecting, the heating 'elementgtheretlirough= is of a-.- well known type and sincethesau e ior ps nopai t, by itself, of this l!1\'( lltl\ )]I 't1 detailed descriptionis not giveniof them.-,

An upper ring 24, preferably c stir-om suitable metal is provided. with a cut. away portion to provide a shoulder against which engages the upper end of the tube 16. whichis of such sizeastqfit snuglytwithin the ring 24,. theiit being a press lit. Extendingaround the ring 24; is a bead26 haringtlie passage 26 formed therein, which communi-i cates through the. passage 27 with the space between the-@tubes 16land '17, the ring 2-l ll:.V-' ingthe cut uvay'portion 28 for the reception inapress fit of thelupper end of the tube 17 A cap 29 provided which fits over the ring 24 :.in(l..has v the inwardly projecting flange 30 which engages the inner surface of the tube 17. The cap 2 9 is provided with the central.,opening 3.1,through wliich' is .projected the shaft 32, the lower end of said shaft being threaded; ,into the opening 8" of the base 7. Threaded onltheupper end of the shaft 32 so "as toretai-n the cap in po sition'thereon isanut A cap 3 is provided for the upper end of the tubeslZ and 13. A face flange 36 is formed on. the cap 34 and provided with acut-away portion for the receptionof the upper end of the tube 12 and a cut-away portion 49 for the reception ofthe upper end of the tube-13, the fit of these tubes On this cap and flange b ing a press fit. A stuiting box 38 projects inwardly from the center of the cap 3%, a gland Mounted 39 serving to compressthe'stufling or packing 35, to form a water tight connection around the shaft 32. A nut 40 is also threaded on the shaft 32 to retain the cap 34 in position thereon, this nut 40 being of insulating material or if not, properly insulated from the heating element which is angiilai'ly turned and brought to the center of the cap for connection with the terminals illustrated. Insulating washers 41 and 41 which are mounted 'on the terminal stud 42 serve to insulate the heating element from the cap 29. The terminal nut 43 which is threaded on the stud 42 is insulated from the cap 29 by the insulating washer 44. l Vashers 43 and 45 serve to insulate the heating element from the cap 29, these washers being mounted on the terminal stud 46. The terminal nut 47 is insulated from the cap '29 by means of the washer 48. These termin'al studs are each connected to the heating element-and free from contact with the cap 29 through which they are projected. By connecting the terminal studs 42 and '46 to the switch provided means is afforded for operating the heating element.

The "shaft 32 is formed tubular at its lower end with the passage 52 communicating through a pluralit ofppenings 51*wit-h the interior of the tin e 13-, so that the water therein flow through the passage 52 to the exterior of the device.- The 'lo'were'nd of the shaft '32 is threadeds'o that-a suitable "condu it may be attachedthereto for conducting the water to any desired position after the same has been heated by theheati'n'g element. If desired a spigot may berattached to this threaded end of the shaft 32 and the water drawn off through the-spigot.

A nipple 53 is formed on the cap 24 communicating with the space between the tubes 16 and 17, and connected by means of the pipe 54 to the interior of the c linder '55, which has, "pioje ctingputwardly fr o m its ba'Sethe soc'ket bearing boss'56,-in Which projects the upper end of 'th e sliaft 32. A nipple 57 serves to afford means for'connecti'ng the cylinder 55in tommunita'uon with a Suitable sour'c'e of water supply, this nipple 57 communicating with the interior of the cylinder 55 through the small opening 58, so'thatthefiow of the w ater into the cylinder will be retarded by the small opening 'to flow are slower ratethh'n would bethecase with a larger opening. I v

"A piston rod ,59 immune atohe end to a piston 60 which isslidhblymtii'inted in the cylinder 55. Threaded o n "the piston rod '59 is a nut 61, and 'asp'i'ra'l spring 62 embraces the rod 59 and'ehg'a ges tit'one end'the piston 60 and at the other end the cd'ver 63 of the cylinder. 'A'face'flange 63' is formed on the cover 63*and threaded into the open end of the cylinder'55. Pi-ojectiagoutwardly from the opposite face of'the cover 63 is 'a 'fiange 64, positioned closer'to the rim of the cover than is the flange63, and tapered as shown in Fig. 1. A switch housing 65 which is cupshaped is mounted on the flange 64. Pro]ectin u wardl from the cover 63 is a su )orting standard '66 having cross arms 67 and 68 at its upper end. Secured to the arm 67 by means of the terminal stud 70 is a spring contact arm 69. A similar contact arm 71 is mounted on the terminal stud 72.

Projecting downwardly from the cross arm 67 is a guide sleeve 7'3, 2. slot 74 being formed in the upper end of the cross head. Slidably mounted in the guide slceve 73 1s a rod 75 having a pin 76 projected thcrethrough and engaging in the slot 74 so that the movement of the rod 75 in one direction is limited. Mounted upon the rod 75 is a "cross bar 77 made from insulating material and secured to one side thereof is a contact plate 7 8 having a terminal 79 attached thereto. Mounted on the other side of the cross bar 77 is a contact plate 78" having a terminal stud 79 attached thereto. Positioned about the rod 75 and'engaging the cross arms 67 "and 68 at one end'and the cross bar 77 at the other "end is a spiral spring '80. The rod 59 projects through a stufiing box 81 which is threaded on a neck 82 formed on the cover 63. Secured to the piston rod 59 at it's upperend is a collar 83 whichserves to engage the gland or stuffing box 81 to limitthe movement of the'pi s'ton rod 59 in one direction.

The structure is such that when the water is turned on so as to permit it to fiowthro ugh the opening 58 the piston 60 will be moved upwardly in the cylinder '55 againstthe ten sion'of the 'spring'62. It will be noted thatthe piston 60 is mounted on the piston rod 59 with'a slight play'so that'it will rise in the cylinder 55 a slight distance before engaging the nut61, the purpose being that. the piston (30 may thus be forced loose from the'cy'linder 55 beforecausing a'movement of the rod 59. As the rod 59 'fnovels upwardly it forces the rod 75 upwardly so as to bring the contacts 78 and 78"iiito engagement with the spring contacts 69 and 71 respectively. These contacts 69 and 71 are'each connected through the terminals 70 and 72'to a suitable source of electrical energy. The terminals 79 and 79 which are mounted on the Contact plates 78 and 78 respectively are connected through the te'rmin'ttls 42 and '46 to the heating element 23 which has been described so that as the piston 60 moves upwardly in the c'ylinder'55 a suiiicien't distance the circuit to the heating element is closed, this closing taking place atsubstantially the same time as when the water is "permitted to'pass from the cylinder 55 through'the'pipe'54'into the space between the tubes 12 and '13 and 16 and 17.

As the piston 60 moves upwardly so as to clear the'outlet port-83 formed in then'ipple 84' tow'h'ich the pipe 54 is attached t'he water entering through the opening '58 will pass through the pipe 54 into the space between the tubes 16 and 17 and thence downwardly through the pipes 19 into the space between the tubes 12 and 13. The water will thence pass upwardly between these tubes and outwardly through the openings 37 formed in the flange 36, thus passing to the interior of the tube 13 so that the water may pass through the openings 51 and outwardly through the passage 52- formed in the lower end of the shaft 32. A suitable hose or spigot may be attached to the lower end of the shaft 32 for leading off the water as desired or if the device is interposed in the water supply system of a dwelling or the like the inlet to he attached to the nipple 57 and the distributing pipe to the outlet end of the shaft 32.

Itwill be noted that the water in passing downwardly and. thence upwardly between the tubes is brought into close proximity to the heating element and a maximum heating is effected.

Mounted pivota'lly at one end onthe upper end of the standard (57 is a locking'dog' 85 having a; shoulder 86 formed thereon. Projected rearwardly from the rod 5 is a-locking finger 8 7 adapted upon movement of the cross bar 7 7 sutiiciently upwardly to 'close the circuit to engage the locking shoulder 86 so as to prevent movement downwardly of the cross bar 77 inresponseto'thetension of the spring 80 upon release of the upward pres sure onthe rod 59.

Project-ing rearwardly-fronr the collar 83 is an actuating finger 88 adapted to engage a shoulder 89-011 th'e locking dog-85. As the rod 59 moves upwardly inresponse to the movement of the piston (30 this' finger 88 moves the-locking dog rearwardlyonits pivot againstthe tension oftl1eispring90; As the finger 88 clears-the shouldei 89 the locking dog 50 is permitted to swing on its pivot in l'UapOllSe to the pressure of the spring 90 so as to more the shon'dcr 86 into position for engaging the under-surface of the finger 87.

It will be noted that the finger 88 has both sides beveled and that both sides of the shoulder 8!) are inclined or beveled. The arrangement. is such that when the rod 59 moves upwardly the circuit is closed as described and the cross bar 79 is locked in position to retain the circuit closed. \Vhen the water is turned off and the cylinder moves downwardly in the piston 55 this movement will be a slow movement depending upon conditions. It is desired that the breaking of the circuit be a quick one to prevent arcing and for this reason the locking mechanism just described is provided. T he arrangement is such that the piston rod 59 will move. downwardly so that the linger US will force the dog 85 to swing on its pivot to bring about a disengagement of the shoulder 86 from the finger 87, at which time there will be a substantial distance between the upper end of the rod 59 and the lowenciid'ofthe rod so that when tl ie disenrt-ment. ot' the shoulderSti with the finger is brought: through the movement of the ad-:ing dogby the finger 88 the spring 80 will cause the contact plates 78 and 78 to be quickly disengaged from the spring contacts (if) and 71, thus causing a quick break in the circuitand pre.-'enting arcing.

Formed in the piston (30 is a cha-n'lber 91 having an opening 92 formed at. one side and normally closed by the ball 93 which is held in position by the spring 94. An opening 95 is formed in the oppositeend of the chamber 91. This arrangement is one which ati'ords an equalization of the pressure on both sides of the piston 60 and permits an escape of steam from the cylinder 55 should steam be developed in the device.

It is evident that when the piston moves from open position to closed position that some water will flow through the chamber 91' and that-water may also flow through the chamber 91 upon movement of the piston 60 to open position. a 'lhe'standard 66 is provided with an aren'- ate split base forming the'arms 96' and 91 which have theirouter surfaces tapered to cooperate with the taper on the flang'e64, a screw'98 serving to expand these arms 96 and 97 for eli'ect iiigft heir movement into close engagement with the fianjze 64'for' retaining the standard in position. The method of mounting the standard in the cap 63 is a'simple and effective one, durable and quite efficient for the purposes intended.

Mounted upon the cap '63 is a. cover 99 which servesto cover the switch and its,op-' erating' mechanism. '-Owing to the fact that the tubes-12 and 13 and-1 16 and 17" s'\\'eat""and deposit moisture in the space-lyingbet-weerr thetube's 12 and '17- in which the heating element is positioned the base 7 may be provided with openings for permitting draining.

Positioned about the tube 16 is a layer 101 of asbestos or other insulating material which is held in position by a suitable cover 102.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of structure, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise embodiment of the invention shown, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric heater 0f the class described; a base having a plurality of concentric grooves formed therein, said grooves being arranged in pairs in spaced relation, the pairs being spaced farther apart than the grooves in each pair; aplurality of tubes, each engaging at its lower end in one of said grooves, the space between the pairs of grooves communicating through passages formed in said base, and a cover for the upper end of said pairs of tubes.

An electric heater of the class described comprising a base having a plurality of concentric grooves formed therein; a plurality of tubular members projecting upwardly from said base, each of said members engaging at its lower end in one of said grooves, the space between said grooves conununicating through passages formed in said base; an electric heating element positioned between a pair of said members; a cap mounted on the inner pair of said members, said cap hav ng openings formed therein for communicating the space between said members with the inside of the innermost of said members; a cover for a pair of said members, said cover having a passage formed therein communicating with the space between said members; a cylinder in communication with said passage in said cover; a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder for opening and closing communication between an inlet port and an outlet port formed in said cylinder and means operable upon the establishing of communication between said inlet port and said outlet port for closing the circuit to said heating element.

3. In an electric heating device of the class described, a container; a plurality of concentrically arranged tubes in said container; :1 base on said container engaging the bottom of said tubes and closing direct communication between the interiors thereof, said base having passages formed therein for establishing communication between the spaces between a plurality of said tubes; a ring engaging the upper end of said tubes, a head on said ring for establishing communication between the spaces between the outermost of said tubes and an inlet port; a tubular shaft projected through said base, and extending above said ring for communicating said passages between said tubes indirectly with an outlet port.

4. An electric water heater including a plurality of concentric cylinders of such diameters as to form a narrow space between two of them as an outer water passage and a narrow space between two others to form an inner water passage and to form a heater chamber between the outer wall of the inner passage and the inner wall of the outer passage, an end member having grooves for the ends of all of said C \fli11(lcrs and closing the said passages and chamber and the space within the innermost cylinder, conduits within said member connecting said inner and outer passages, closures for the upper end of said outer passage having a water inlet, a closure for the upper end of said inner passage and inner c x -'linders and having a water outlet delivering to the inner cylinder, and an electric heater in said heater chamber between said passages.

5. An electric water heater consisting of a cylindrical heater element, metal cylinders within and without said element constructed and arranged to conduct water in a circuitous path and in a stream of small cross Section close to said heater within and without the same and out of contact therewith, a bottom member for said cylinders top members for said cylinders, an axial rod for holding said bottom and top members together with said cylinders therebetween, a pressure controlled valve nicn'iber above said top members, and an electric switch above said valve and controlled thereby.

In testimony whereof, I have signedthe foregoing specification.

MICHEL S. GAZELLE. 

